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Urakam Temple, also known as Ammathiruvadi Temple, is a famous temple located about 12 km from Thrissur town in Kerala. The deity worshipped in the temple is Goddess Shakti and is known by the names of Valayadhishwari and Urakattamma. The temple has come to be known by the name of the village (Urakam) in which it is located.

Vastusutra Upanishad is a text on architecture and sculpture in Hinduism. Though named an Upanishad, the text relates to traditional Hindu architecture and iconography.
Vastusutra Upanishad is composed in such a way as to bring out the philosophy of sculpture and architecture especially Murti Shastra (iconography).
The text is written in Sanskrit and follows the Upanishad style of writing found in the Vedas.
The text is dedicated to the its deity named Vishwakarma. It must be noted here that Vishwakarma is associated with all kinds of works in Hindu religion and is the divine architect of the universe.
Vastusutra Upanishad contains six prapathakas (chapters) titled Sat-Shilpavicharah, KhilapanjarrajnanaSailabhedanam,AngaprayogahRupa Bhavana BodhahSambandhaprabodhanam
The first chapter mentions six categories of the art of Vastu as well as six types of stone from which the color the image is known.
The second chapter gives details of the procedural steps such as setting, polishing of…

There are two versions of Varah Avatar, one is in Vishnu
Purana (Part I. Chapter 4), and other in Srimad Bhagavata (Part III, Chapter
13). They differ in details.

The account in Sri Vishnu Purana was provided by Sage
Parasara in reply to a query by his pupil Maitreya.

The context in Vishnu Purana is creation at the beginning of
the present Sweta Varaha Kalpa.

As per the account in Vishnu Purana, Narayana woke up from
His deep sleep at the end of the previous Kalpa called Padma Kalpa. He surveyed
His surroundings and He found that there was only water, water everywhere, the
earth being visible nowhere. The earth was swallowed up by the swirling waters
around it.

Narayana then saw a lone lotus leaf floating in the water
indicating that its support, the earth, was beneath it.

To retrieve earth and restore it to its former position,
Bhagavan Srihari Vishnu took the form of a boar, which is suitable for diving
fearlessly into the slushy and slimy waters of the ocean.

Tithi in Panchang - Hindu Calendar on Monday, 25 February 2019 – Krishna Paksha Sashti Tithi or the sixth day during the waning or dark phase of moon inHindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Sashti Tithi or the sixth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10:26 AM on February 25. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Saptami Tithi or the seventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 9:48 AM on February 26. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India.)All time based on India Standard Time.Good – Auspicious time on February 25, 2019, as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day. Nakshatra – Swati or Chothi Nakshatra till 3:10 AM on February 25. Then onward it is Vishakha or Vishakam Nakshatra till 3:02 AM on February 26. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India.)
In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Vishakha or Vishaka…

Story of Dhishrindra is mentioned in the Skanda Purana.
Legend has it that Agni, the fire god in Hinduism, performed severe penance to
win Lord Shiva’s favor. Pleased with Agni’s penance, Shiva appeared before him.
As boon, Agni requested that Narmada and sixteen of her tributaries should
become his wives and bear him children. The boon was granted.

The son of Agni and Narmada was known as Dhishrindra. He was
brave and handsome.

During one of the conflicts between Devas and Asuras,
Bhagavan Vishnu asked Dhishrindra to fight on behalf of gods.

Dhishrindra fought valiantly and sustained severe wounds but
finally he vanquished the Asuras.
After the battle, Narmada gathered her wounded son into her
waters and restored his health by healing his wounds and rejuvenating him.

River Cauvery, which is known as the Ganga of the
South, is associated with Sage Agastya. The popular story has it that Sage Agastya
brought River Ganga from north and it became Kaveri River in South. In
Karnataka, there is a story, which suggests that Cauvery was the wife of Sage
Agastya.

Sri Kavera Maharshi, who had no children, performed intense
austerities to get a child. Brahma blessed the Saint with a girl child. The
child was Lopamudra, who was a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti.

Kaveri Rishi named her Cauvery and brought her up with all
affection, care and devotion at his Ashram in the Brahmagiri Hills.

One day, Sage Agastya, a manifestation of Shiva, reached the
ashram of Kavera Maharshi. Here he happened to see the young Cauvery. He was
impressed by her beauty and devotion.

Sage Agastya sought her hand in marriage.

Cauvery agreed to marry the saint only if he promised that
he would never leave her alone for a long duration. The Sage agreed to the
condition and the m…

Sri M, as he is popularly known, is a social activist, educationist and a crusader for inter-religious harmony with a deep knowledge of world religions. This is a collection of quotes and teachings of Sri M.

You don’t have to leave home to surrender. My Guru would say
if you meditate in a cave for 13 hours daily for 13 years, how do you know you
have overcome anger or jealousy? You cannot be jealous of a weed that is
growing in a cave.
Only when you get on a bus and someone kicks you, you will
know how much of your anger you have been able to control.
Control is learnt in this world, amongst people.
It is true that the mind needs rest, for if it is occupied
with small things, it cannot soar. But you can rest even in a crowd. That is
surrender which makes the Stitha pragya or person of equanimity. Bhakti or devotion cannot be understood by intellect alone. Bhakti goes where the intellect cannot reach. It is something the heart accesses. Everything in life cannot be rationalized or put i…

Maha Shivratri is the most auspicious day dedicated to Lord Shiva and is popularly known as the night of Siva. Shivratri 2019 date is March 4, Monday as per panchangs in India. In Panchangs and Hindu calendars followed in Mauritius, United States, United Kingdom (Britain) and Canada, Shivaratri is marked on March 4. It is marked on March 4 in Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Australia and New Zealand. This holy night of Shiva is observed on the night before ‘amavasya’ in the Hindu month of Phalgun (February – March) as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. The corresponding period in other regions is the night before Magh Amavasya.

Shivratri 2019 Date Puja Tithi and Timings
The best time to perform puja is from 12:10 AM to 1:00 AM on March 5 early hours midnight.

Nishita Kala is chosen to perform pujas and rituals on Shivratri.
All pujas and rituals are completed before Amavasya (No moon) starts.

Nishita Kala Puja time is 12:08 AM to 12:55 AM on March 5 (just after midnig…

Yajna in Hinduism is an ordered set of symbolic steps of self offering (atmayajna) and is of great importance. The symbolism of yajna is that it is a self-offering for self transformation. Yajna came to have a meaning that was simultaneously macrocosmic and microcosmic:macrocosmic in that it was equated with the creation or re-creation of the universe; microcosmic in that it represented a concentrated meditative effort for the purpose of inner transformation.

Importance of Yajna In Hinduism
A sacrifice, seated on a stone at the sacrificial fire, beseeches, “Accept me, divine fire, but do not burn me.” Then the sacrifice stands up with an understanding and having been comprehended by the divine fire and sprinkles personal tokens of offerings into household fire (garhapatya) as a seed to sprout forth as a new life, as a new event of becoming. This symbolism has sustained the spirit of yajna.
Although the outward mode of sacrifice has been transformed over time into worship, the spirit…

Tithi in Panchang - Hindu Calendar on Sunday, 24 February 2019 – Krishna Paksha Panchami Tithi or the fifth day during the waning or dark phase of moon inHindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Panchami Tithi or the fifth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 11:30 AM on February 24. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Sashti Tithi or the sixth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10:26 AM on February 25. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India.)All time based on India Standard Time.

Good – Auspicious time on February 24, 2019, as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time on the entire day. Nakshatra – Chitra or Chithirai or Chithira Nakshatra till 3:43 AM on February 24. Then onward it is Swathi or Chothi Nakshatra till 3:10 AM on February 25. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India.)
In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Swathi or Chothi …